Clatre Minor Footballers unlucky in Munster S.F

Tipperary defeated Clare by the minimum in this evening’s Electric Ireland Munster minor football semi-final in Thurles.

Points in the 59th, 60th and and 61st minutes edged Tipperary over
the line against Clare at Semple Stadium, denying the Banner County a
first provincial final appearance since 1994.

Clare had moved two points clear when captain Keelan Sexton popped
over his side’s first score of the game from a free with eight minutes
left.

But Tipperary hit late points from Tommy Nolan, Jack Kennedy and
man-of-the-match Brendan Martin, his fifth, to book a place in a fourth
final in five seasons.

Goals in either half had rocked Tipp back on their heels but they
created enough chances at the other end to sneak over the line. Martin
and Jack Kennedy hit five points each, with three of Kennedy’s from
play, and the hosts also finished with 11 wides.

Clare’s first score of the game was a goal midway through the first half, a magnificent solo effort from Cormac Murray.

After Murray’s goal, when Tipp were punished for a turnover, Martin’s
second point levelled matters before Clare surged into a three-point
advantage with the breeze.

Darragh Bohannon kick started a run of three unanswered points before senior panellist Keelan Sexton and Murray were on target.

But Tipp hit back with three of their own before half-time to restore
parity, with Emmett Moloney, minor hurling captain Stephen Quirke and
Shane Power on target.

Power’s point was a gutsy score as he was the player turned over by
Clare’s Cillian Brennan in the lead-up to the Banner County goal, and
Tipp were level at half-time, 0-6 to 1-3.

Clare’s second goal, created by sub Conor Lynch and scored by Sexton,
handed Clare the early second half advantage and they would lead by
three points on as many occasions before Tipp’s late supershow reeled
them in.